DAYS 54-57 Pilbara – Kimberley Trip
BROOME – HORIZONTAL FALLS
Broome
Whilst it was nice spending time with the children it was great coming back to join my hubby. After a slow start in the morning we went to town. Still can’t get over the frangipani lined streets. The flowers are still in bloom and look absolutely beautiful. They are one of my favourite flowers and I had a bouquet of frangipanis when we got married.
Hubby had already visited the Broome museum and decided that I would like to see it too. Whilst small, it covers all aspects of life in Broome, a town that is unlike any other historically and culturally. A time capsule stands outside the museum.
It included exhibits ranging from early pearling days, local indigenous history, bombing near Broome during WW11 to recent illegal fishing. The boat below is an Indonesian fishing vessel restored by illegal fishermen held in detention at Willie Creek Prison Farm.
We then wandered around Dampier Street and its many pearl outlets and visited a few more galleries.
In the evening I finally got to go down to Cable Beach. I loved the texture on some of the rocks.
There were incredible patterns in the sand from little crab like creatures. I couldn’t step on the patterns – they were like ephemeral works of art. The juxtaposition of tyre tracks and the patterns was an interesting crossover of natural and man made patterns.
Camels were setting out on their walk.
I felt that the ambience of the place was spoilt by the number of cars driving down onto the beach. We watched the sunset over the water.
We made our way over to the Town Beach hoping to catch the Stairway to the Moon. There was a considerable crowd there when we arrived and the markets were in full swing. We waited in vain. The cloud did not lift so there was no Stairway to the Moon to be seen.
The following evening, after going to Horizontal falls, (I've written about it in a separate section at the end of this Broome section) we headed for Gantheaune Point once again. When we got there we got talking to a couple who had started their trip by going to the high country in Victoria with another Oka. It turned out we knew their friends. It is a small country. Together we went to Anastasia’s Pool. The pool was built by a light housekeeper for his wife who had arthritis. She must have been mobile to have been able to get to it.
The sunset was absolutely stunning once again.
After dinner we were off again for Town Beach for the Stairway to the Moon. It looked like it was going to be a fizzler, but at the last moment some of the cloud lifted and we got a short glimpse of it. I am glad we saw it. However, neither of us captured it with our cameras.
As we are about to do Gibb River and Kalumburu Roads we’ve restocked and spent some time cryovacing meat.
Our last day at Broome was our 33rd wedding anniversary and our youngest son’s 5th wedding anniversary. We moved out of our Oka into a cabin for the last two nights and had a relaxing day. We explored the area around Reddell Beach. Again some very interesting rock formations.
The colours again were strong in contrasts.
We toasted the sunset at Cable Beach before retiring to the air conditioned cabin for veal marsala and tia maria, walnut, passionfruit, ice cream. A desert that we have had every year on our wedding anniversary.
Horizontal Falls
On Wednesday we went on a tour to Horizontal Falls. Whilst expensive it was more than worth every cent.
We flew in a seaplane over Cable Beach.
We continued onto the Dampier Peninsula
It was interesting to see the road to Cape Leveque, our next destination, from the air.
Then to Cape Leveque
and then the Buccaneer Archipelago.
The views were spectacular. This ancient land – reefs, rock outcrops, islands - weathered, eroded over billions of years had such character. The surrounding seas give it an ambience and have kept the area pristine as the area is not easily accessible. You could see the force behind the incoming high tide.
I believe that the only way one can really see it and appreciate its wonder is from the air.
We flew to Talbot Bay over the Horizontal Falls. Again what a wonder of nature. As the tide was 9.2 metres high they were quite spectacular.
We landed at the tour operators houseboat and were soon on a boat to explore the area from the water.
The rock formations again were very interesting.
I was surprised by the number of whirlpools.
There was quite an adrenalin rush as we crossed the first fall several times.
We went up to the second falls but did not go over them.
We returned via Derby where we refuelled. Hubby got a chance to be co-pilot.
It was a wonderful but tiring day.
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